Democratic Movement for Change

The Democratic Movement for Change, also known by its Hebrew acronym Dash, was a centrist political party in Israel that was active from 1976 to 1978. The party was founded in 1976 by well-known politicians Yigael Yadin, Amnon Rubinstein, Shmuel Tamir, Meir Amit, Meir Zorea, and it included several liberal movements (such as Shinui), business leaders, academics, and Arabs. Over 37,000 people signed up as party members within weeks of its formation, and the party revolutionized Israeli politics by adopting a primaries system. It did surprisingly well in its first electoral test, winning 15 Knesset seats. In 1977, the party joined the ruling coalition, but arguments over the party's lack of role in the balance of power led to the party's disintegration in 1978. The party was succeeded by a revived Shinui, the Democratic Movement of Israel, and Ya'ad.